| Probable cause affidavit: |
SUBMITTED BY: WILSON, EDWARD 0457 (AR11120135) did unlawfully enter or remain in a certain conveyance, to-wit: FIVE DIFFERENT WORK TRUCKS, the property of THE VICTIM), without said person's consent, with the intent to commit an offense therein, to-wit: GRAND THEFT, and the said conveyanceS wERE not open to the public at the time, AND DEFENDANT MR ERIC JOHNSON was not licensed or invited to enter or remain in said conveyance, in violation of Florida Statute 810.02 (AND) DID UNLAWFULLY AND KNOWINGLY OBTAIN, USE OR ENDEAVOR TO OBTAIN OR USE THE PROPERTY OF THE VICTIM, TO-WIT: VARIOUS EQUIPMENT USED FOR TREE SURGEON WORK, OF THE VALUE OF THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($300.00) OR MORE, BUT LESS THAN FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,000.00), TO WIT: PROPERTY VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $2,000.00, WITH THE INTENT TO EITHER TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEPRIVE THE VICTIM OF A RIGHT TO THE PROPERTY OR A BENEFIT THEREOF, OR DID APPROPRIATE THE SAID PROPERTY TO HIS OWN USE OR THE USE OF ANY PERSON NOT ENTITLED THERETO, IN VIOLATION OF FLORIDA STATUTES 812.014. ON 032911 A BURGLARY AND THEFT WAS REPORTED TO THIS AGENCY, AND ON 033011 I WAS ASSIGNED TO THE CASE. THE VICTIM REPORTED THAT HIS COMPANY STORES ITS TRUCKS OVER NIGHT AND ON WEEKENDS AT PROGRESS ENERGY IN INVERNESS. WHILE THESE WORK VEHICLES WERE STORED THEY WERE BROKEN INTO AND VARIOUS TREE CLIMBING AND SURGICAL EQUIPMENT WAS STOLEN. ON 040611, DETECTIVE GREATREX NOTIFIED ME THAT WHILE HE WAS CONDUCTING A PROBABLE CAUSE WARRANT ARREST ON AN UNRELATED CHARGE, HE DISCOVERED PROPERTY THAT WAS STOLEN FROM BURFORD TREE SURGEON TRUCKS. I THEN RESPONDED TO HIS LOCATION AND POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED THREE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT (A CHAIN SAW, LEAF BLOWER AND A FIVE GALLON BLUE COOLER) AS BELONGING TO THE VICTIM. BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, I CONTACTED THE DEFENDANT WHO HAD BEEN DETAINED IN THE BACK OF DETECTIVE GREATREX'S VEHICLE, I READ HIM HIS MIRANDA RIGHTS VIA CARD and ASKED IF HE WOULD SPEAK WITH ME. HE STATED HE UNDERSTOOD HIS RIGHTS AND WOULD SPEAK WITH ME. THE DEFENDANT, ERIC D JOHNSON, STATED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW HOW THE EQUIPMENT GOT IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, AS IT IS NOT HIS TRUCK AND HE WAS ONLY DRIVING IT. HOWEVER, HE DOES LIVE AT THAT ADDRESS AND THE COOLER WAS FOUND IN A SHED ON THE PROPERTY. THIS WAS AFTER A PERMISSION TO SEARCH CONSENT WAS GIVEN BY THE TENANT OF THAT PROPERTY. AT THIS TIME DEFENDANT JOHNSON WAS ARRESTED FOR BURGLARY AND GRAND THEFT AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CITRUS COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY BY DETECTIVE GREATREX. ONCE AT THE DETENTION FACILITY HE WAS PROCESSED AND CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT OF GRAND THEFT AND ONCE COUNT OF BURGLARY, WITH his BOND SET AT $4,000.00 PER THE BOND SCHEDULE. *NOT-EXEMPT* |
